As noted before, the JPO has been making some progress in modernizing its remote connections with teleconferencing capabilities in the COVID-19 era. Yet users were complaining that they could not reach examiners and other personnel in charge of intellectual property prosecution (the examiner in charge of a case must be the one to answer telephone inquiries). If the examiners were not in the physical JPO office (for example, due to novel coronavirus restrictions), a caller would have to wait for them to get to work another day.
Finally, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) announced on April 1 that as of the same day, JPO personnel engaged in the examination or appeals regarding patent, trademark, and design filing applications are wired to be reached even they are working remotely.
METI affirmed the JPO has maintained its high speeds of examination even in the difficulties of COVID-19 (2.7 months for Accelerated Examinations and 0.9 months for Super Accelerated Examinations). Better late than never for reaching examiners in their teleworking environments! If you need help reaching the examiner for your case, feel free to consult us.
Sources
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. “出願人等の皆様と審査官等の連絡手段を整備しました [Have overhauled ].”
April 1, 2021. Accessed April 10, 2021.
